The Lithuanian Competition Council has issued a warning to the Lithuanian Beekeepers’ Union after the organization called on beekeepers to increase honey prices “in solidarity,” reminding market participants that any agreement or coordinated action to fix prices constitutes a serious violation of competition law.
Last week, the Lithuanian Beekeepers’ Union published an appeal on its official website and Facebook page, urging beekeepers across the country to raise both retail and wholesale honey prices in response to an unfavorable harvest. The appeal described this as an act of unity to stabilize honey prices, boost demand for local honey, and improve beekeepers’ income.
In reaction, the Competition Council sent a preventive letter to the Union, stressing that Lithuanian law strictly prohibits undertakings and their associations—whether natural or legal persons—from negotiating or coordinating the prices of goods or services. The authority highlighted that such practices are considered among the most harmful forms of anti-competitive behavior, as they distort market dynamics and harm consumers.
The Council underlined that even if coordinated pricing is intended to protect producers’ income or ensure market stability, it would still qualify as a serious restriction of competition. “Both individuals and companies must independently set the prices of their products,” stated Daumantas Grikinis, head of the Prohibited Agreements Investigation Group. “Competitors are prohibited from discussing or coordinating prices with each other, or from negotiating their increase, either directly or through organizations uniting business representatives. When businesses compete fairly, consumers benefit the most, as they have the opportunity to choose goods and services at a price that is acceptable to them.”
The authority further explained that, under competition law, agreements are not limited to formal contracts. Concerted actions, such as public calls or coordinated communications on social networks encouraging price alignment, may also be treated as anti-competitive conduct if they reflect a shared intention to act uniformly in the market.
The Competition Council advised the Lithuanian Beekeepers’ Union to refrain from any actions that could infringe the Competition Law, and recommended that its members review the Council’s published guidelines, “Activities of Associations: How to Avoid Violating Competition Law Requirements.” These guidelines outline what types of decisions and discussions are prohibited within associations and how to minimize the risk of breaching competition rules.
Following the Council’s intervention, the Lithuanian Beekeepers’ Union informed the authority that it had removed the appeal and taken into account the warnings outlined in the preventive letter.
The case serves as a reminder that even well-intentioned efforts by industry groups to stabilize markets or protect incomes can easily cross the line into anti-competitive coordination if they involve collective price-setting or market allocation.
